This season hinges on two players. The level of their success will make or break this team. I'm talking about Tony Romo and Julius Jones.
Fortunately, both players are in the last year of their contract. This, in itself raises the level of most players. If the player performs well, he's worth more next year. If he doesn't, he's worth less. Amazing how that all works out, isn't it?
So Tony Romo goes into this season as the starting quarterback. He has wanted his chance and this is it. If the offensive line is as improved as we're all hoping, Romo should have a good season. He'll look like the 1st 5 game Tony Romo we saw last season. . . mobile, quick decision making, accurate and unrattled. If that offensive line doesn't keep the dogs off, we'll see the last 5 game Tony Romo . . . . reticent, hurried, unsure of himself. He was crowned the 2nd coming of Brett Favre in his first few games. In his last few, he looked more like Quincy Carter running for his life. Even if the offensive line gets their job done, it's still up to Romo.
Romo became the starter last season and promptly proceeded to light it up. Within 5 weeks, he had enough people convinced he could do no wrong that he was voted into the Pro Bowl. Romo fever was rampant, with only a few of us saying it was much too early to declare him a hall of famer. Then the Cowboys imploded. From being the number 2 seed going into December, they dropped to the point they barely made it into the playoffs. Tony Romo's only playoff start ended as a disaster as the Cowboys dropped their wildcard game on a fluke play.
Julius Jones has to sustain a level he hasn't shown he can maintain in the past. He has had his moments of glory, but unfortunately, they've been few and far between. Getting through last season by Parcells keeping him on the bench a lot in the final games doesn't leave me with high expectations of him getting through the coming season. One year of playing all 16 games does not prove a running back is durable. But Jones said Parcells had him hampered and feeling like a robot. He won't have Parcells to point fingers at this season, so if he has a bad season, it's going to be all on Julius Jones. If he has a good season, he can say I told you so.
There has been talk of trading Jones. There has been talk of the Cowboys letting his contract run out and using one of their 1st round picks in the next draft to pick up a highly rated running back. I think there's enough history on Julius Jones now to be very nervous going into this season. Durability is still a question. Production is still a question. Even if he has an excellent season, how much money do you want to throw at a guy that waits until a contract year before showing he's a serious contender? Personally, I think the handwriting is on the wall and the Cowboys will be making a change at running back next spring, if not sooner. Others feel Jones can be one of the elite runners in the league. There would have to be a fundamental change in production for him to be what I considered "elite".
So, here we are. Going into the season with two guys that frankly make me nervous. We still don't know if Romo is the quarterback of the future for the Cowboys or if he's going to just become the latest failed experiment at the position. We don't know if Jones is right and all of his past woes have been because of Parcells or if Jones himself might have been a contributing factor. We don't know if Jones will make it through the season unless he's allowed to warm the bench at the end of the season. Emmitt Smith played at Giant's stadium, in freezing weather with a dislocated shoulder. Bill Parcells felt Jones had to be kept out of the games to keep him from getting injured toward the end of last season. You couldn't keep Smith out of the game. With Jones, you couldn't keep him in. We're accustomed to more at running back for the Cowboys.
If Romo and Jones can perform at a high level, the offense should be in the top 5. If either of them perform poorly, the entire season becomes in jeopardy.
Of course, we do have training camp and preseason. Although I'm not expecting the next Joe Montana to show up to try out for quarterback, I wouldn't be surprised to see a young running back with just enough talent to raise some eyebrows show up and compete for a starting position. No, I don't think the next Walter Peyton is on the squad. Yes, I do think Jones should be watching his back.
Let's hope Jones and Romo stay healthy and improve their game skills and that the rest of the offense does their job. It has been so long since we've had a truly elite offense. I know the old axium that defenses win championships. I've always felt that teams with the most points win championships. Go figure.
Rod
http://macsheadroom.blogspot.com/
Fortunately, both players are in the last year of their contract. This, in itself raises the level of most players. If the player performs well, he's worth more next year. If he doesn't, he's worth less. Amazing how that all works out, isn't it?
So Tony Romo goes into this season as the starting quarterback. He has wanted his chance and this is it. If the offensive line is as improved as we're all hoping, Romo should have a good season. He'll look like the 1st 5 game Tony Romo we saw last season. . . mobile, quick decision making, accurate and unrattled. If that offensive line doesn't keep the dogs off, we'll see the last 5 game Tony Romo . . . . reticent, hurried, unsure of himself. He was crowned the 2nd coming of Brett Favre in his first few games. In his last few, he looked more like Quincy Carter running for his life. Even if the offensive line gets their job done, it's still up to Romo.
Romo became the starter last season and promptly proceeded to light it up. Within 5 weeks, he had enough people convinced he could do no wrong that he was voted into the Pro Bowl. Romo fever was rampant, with only a few of us saying it was much too early to declare him a hall of famer. Then the Cowboys imploded. From being the number 2 seed going into December, they dropped to the point they barely made it into the playoffs. Tony Romo's only playoff start ended as a disaster as the Cowboys dropped their wildcard game on a fluke play.
Julius Jones has to sustain a level he hasn't shown he can maintain in the past. He has had his moments of glory, but unfortunately, they've been few and far between. Getting through last season by Parcells keeping him on the bench a lot in the final games doesn't leave me with high expectations of him getting through the coming season. One year of playing all 16 games does not prove a running back is durable. But Jones said Parcells had him hampered and feeling like a robot. He won't have Parcells to point fingers at this season, so if he has a bad season, it's going to be all on Julius Jones. If he has a good season, he can say I told you so.
There has been talk of trading Jones. There has been talk of the Cowboys letting his contract run out and using one of their 1st round picks in the next draft to pick up a highly rated running back. I think there's enough history on Julius Jones now to be very nervous going into this season. Durability is still a question. Production is still a question. Even if he has an excellent season, how much money do you want to throw at a guy that waits until a contract year before showing he's a serious contender? Personally, I think the handwriting is on the wall and the Cowboys will be making a change at running back next spring, if not sooner. Others feel Jones can be one of the elite runners in the league. There would have to be a fundamental change in production for him to be what I considered "elite".
So, here we are. Going into the season with two guys that frankly make me nervous. We still don't know if Romo is the quarterback of the future for the Cowboys or if he's going to just become the latest failed experiment at the position. We don't know if Jones is right and all of his past woes have been because of Parcells or if Jones himself might have been a contributing factor. We don't know if Jones will make it through the season unless he's allowed to warm the bench at the end of the season. Emmitt Smith played at Giant's stadium, in freezing weather with a dislocated shoulder. Bill Parcells felt Jones had to be kept out of the games to keep him from getting injured toward the end of last season. You couldn't keep Smith out of the game. With Jones, you couldn't keep him in. We're accustomed to more at running back for the Cowboys.
If Romo and Jones can perform at a high level, the offense should be in the top 5. If either of them perform poorly, the entire season becomes in jeopardy.
Of course, we do have training camp and preseason. Although I'm not expecting the next Joe Montana to show up to try out for quarterback, I wouldn't be surprised to see a young running back with just enough talent to raise some eyebrows show up and compete for a starting position. No, I don't think the next Walter Peyton is on the squad. Yes, I do think Jones should be watching his back.
Let's hope Jones and Romo stay healthy and improve their game skills and that the rest of the offense does their job. It has been so long since we've had a truly elite offense. I know the old axium that defenses win championships. I've always felt that teams with the most points win championships. Go figure.
Rod
http://macsheadroom.blogspot.com/
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